Engineering: There’s Much More To It Than You Think

1 week ago

We’ll be honest: this article is going to primarily appeal
to those who love engineering. Is that a small group of people? Probably. But
engineering is critically important, if you’ve ever considered a career in
engineering, this article is for you.

Engineering is the field of science concerned with the
design, building, and use of engines, structures, and machines, and modern
engineers use their skills for simple machines, computer technology, and
building satellites.

Engineering is an occupation with extremely wide reach.
Engineering covers many fields and many skills. Engineers are scientists,
designers, inventors, builders and thinkers. They work to improve the state of
the world, magnify human capability and make everyday life safer and easier.

Engineering
requires a specific skill set:

Understanding and practice of the
scientific method

Social, cultural and economic
awareness

Exceptional mathematics skills

Awareness and competence in biology,
chemistry, physics and other areas of science

Creativity

Teamwork

The many fields of engineering give us machines and devices
that help us in our daily living, and engineers of all stripes make things work
and then improve upon the original. Engineers use creativity and invention to
design solutions for global issues.

The Many
Types Of Engineers

The reason many people are attracted to engineering work is
because of the variety of tasks and environments available to them.

Originally, engineering had four disciplines: chemical,
civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and each discipline had several
branches. Now, those branches have become their own disciplines.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineers work on aircraft, aerospace vehicles and
propulsion systems. They are in research and development for new planes,
helicopters, jets, gliders, missiles and spacecraft.

Agricultural Engineering

These engineers work on conserving and developing the
world’s natural resources including soil, land, water, forests, and rivers.

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineers work with physicians, doing research
and development to improve health care and medical services.

Building Services

Building Services Engineers design HVAC systems,electric lighting and power systems, water
and gas supplies, and plumbing and drainage systems.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering examines the ways raw materials can be
changed into useful commercial end products. Researching the properties of raw
materials, design and development of appropriate machines,pum10ps, valves,gaskets,seals, orings,and ongoing evaluation of operating processes are all duties
of a Chemical Engineer.

Food Engineering

Food Engineers design and develop equipment and production
systems that increase the shelf life of food while maintaining its integrity
and nutrition stainless
steel tanks.

Petroleum & Petrochemical Engineering

Engineers in this field explore, discover, harvest, use and
improve oil and natural gas. They are constantly researching and testing new,
safer, more economical methods of removing oil and gas from the earth.

Pharmaceutical

The equipment that produces our millions of life-saving
medications is designed and operated by pharmaceutical engineers.

Process Control

Process Control Engineers create and maintain computer
software and systems made to control the quality and quantity of products
during manufacturing.

Environmental Engineers assess the impact a project has on
the air, water, soil and noise levels in the surrounding environment.

Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineers draw upon specialized knowledge and
skills in mathematics, physics, physiological and social sciences to optimize
the use of human and material resources for the most efficient outcomes in
industry.

Marine Engineering

Marine Engineers design, test, and improve machinery and
equipment used at sea. This can include propulsion units, electrical systems,
refrigeration, air conditioning, cargo handling and domestic services
equipment.

These engineers turn raw material into valuable products;
for example, they turn bauxite into aluminum. These engineers use different
treatments to process materials efficiently, using physical or chemical
separations and metallurgical processes.

Mining Engineering

Mining Engineers work with geologists to plan and execute
the extraction of ore and mineral deposits, along with the extraction of
non-metals like coal and uranium. They have to find the safest and cheapest way
to remove the minerals from the earth.

Resource Engineering

Resource Engineering is about the development and use of
natural resources. This includes the development, control, and conservation of
water resources, soil conservation, and other land and pollution concerns.

Risk Engineering

Risk assessment by this type of engineer involves analysis
based on chemistry, physics and other aspects of a project. They identify
potential hazards, how likely those hazards are to occur, and what response
should be made in the event the potential hazard becomes a reality.

Software Engineering

Software Engineers design and modify software systems to
support our businesses, transportation hubs, and even our digital games and
social media.

Any one of these engineering disciplines can lead to a
successful, long-term career.

Engineering
Salaries

Engineering involves many specialties and there are many
opportunities for employment. Each of the disciplines listed above needs many
specialists to work in the field effectively, like aeronautical engineers,
agricultural engineers, automotive engineers, biomedical engineers, and many
more.

Following is a snapshot of what one can earn with a career
in engineering:

Engineering
Occupation
Average Annual Salary

Aerospace Engineers
$107,700

Architectural & Engineering Managers
$138,720

Biomedical Engineers
$91,760

Chemical Engineers
$103,590

Civil Engineers
$87,130

Computer Hardware Engineers
$110,650

Electrical Engineers
$95,780

Environmental Engineers
$86,340

Health & Safety Engineers
$84,850

Industrial Engineers
$85,110

Marine Engineers
$99,160

Mechanical Engineers
$87,140

Mining & Geological Engineers
$100,970

Nuclear Engineers
$104,630

Petroleum Engineers
$147,520

Ship Engineers
$74,600

(All data
from the BLS, ABET, & NCES)

Future
Engineering Challenges

Despite our society’s advancements, there are still
engineering challenges facing the engineering field. Among these challenges are
the following:

Upgrading the United States
infrastructure

Educating first world engineers to
solve third world problems

Promoting green engineering to
improve sustainability

Identifying viable alternative
energy solutions

Rethinking how cities are designed
and function

Making STEM more appealing to young
students

Safeguarding data and wealth from
cyberattacks

Addressing climate change through
engineering

Feeding the growing world population
through bio-engineering and agricultural innovation

Improving health and well-being
through life sciences, nanotechnology, and bio-engineering

To address these challenges, we need more students to join
the varied disciplines of engineering as soon as possible.

Engineers of the future need to be good decision-makers who
protect the environment and enhance the quality of life on Earth. They must
also work well with others in making the best decisions when interdisciplinary
projects are attempted.

As a result of our changing world, new disciplines of
engineering are emerging:

Earth
Systems Engineering

This type of engineering seeks to acknowledge the complexity
of world problems and encourage the use of more holistic approaches, rather
than simply seeking a single solution for a problem.

Engineering
for Developing Communities

As the needs of the developing world for engineering
solutions continues to increase, engineers in the industrialized can contribute
to the relief of the hunger, injustice, exploitation, and pain of people trying
to survive around the globe.

As the population continues to expand globally, engineers
may have the keys to improving life for those who suffer in poverty, with
disease, and without basic machinery to make life easier.

Conclusion

From our first practical artists and builders, to today’s
computer geniuses, engineers have defined how we live our lives, make our
contributions to society, and utilize our innate talents and skills.

Their contributions to society can be seen all around us. It
is the future of engineering to take these machines and processes to places
where the people have never dreamed of such technologies.